KAWHIA GOAL DEPOSITS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1476, 7 February 1903, Page 2

KAWHIA GOAL DEPOSITS.

© INSPECTOR OF MINKS' REPORT. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION). Weixingiox, Lust Night. When applioitioa whs made for a coalmining lease on the Awaroa River, in the Kawhia North District, the Inspector of Mines at the Thames was requested to visit the locality and furnish a report. He states that he did not see any outcrop of cnal on Crown lands, but saw 4ft of coal exposed in a Bin ill creek at the hack of Grey's store. The seam had not been cut through to Hod out its thickness. He also saw a place where coal had been discovered about a mile to the north-east of the store, and has every reason to believe that coal will he found on the Crown lands, which are distant about two miles from the store. As nothing his yet been done in the way of prospecting or proving the extent and value of the coal to be found on the Crown lands, he agrees with the Commissioner of Crown Lauds at Auckland that it would he advisable to grant a lease to Messrs Fletcher and Post. As the land is very broken he is afraid coal will only be found in small patches, and it would not therefore be suitable for a State coal mine, ami is not what might be considered favourably situated, as it would cost too much to put the coal on the Auckland o - Wellington market. The coal would first have to he brought down a tram line, piu into barges and conveyed a distance of ten miles to deep water, and thern trail shipped, or a railway would have to be constructed into the district, which would reqiire a large sum of money. In the event of the lease being taken up on the conditions set forth in the men oranunra of the Commissioner of Crown Lands the leaseholders would in all probability require a steam launch 10 run between Kawhia, and the mine would thereby provide better facilities for the settlers in the Awaroa ciistriot to get produce from their sections to a market. The Commissioner of Crown Lands at Auckland has been instructed by the Lands Department to piepare and forward a coal lease for '/00 acres of the area applied for on terms suggested by the Land Board for the signature of His Excellency the Governor.